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The Muncaster War Memorial seen above is situated adjacent to the main road between Barrow-in-Furness and Gosforth (near Seascale) at the road junction leading to the coastal village of Ravenglass. There is another WW1 memorial inside the nearby Muncaster Parish Church.

Originally dedicated to commemorate 'The Fallen' of Muncaster parish of WW1 (or the 'Great War' as it usually referred to at the time) the Muncaster War Memorial lists the names of 14 men of the district from the 1914 - 1918 war. After WW2, an additional 7 names were added of those who lost their lives in the 1939 - 1945 war.

Gilbert and James Todd, two of the WW2 service casualties from the Muncaster district listed on the War Memorial were brothers. They were the sons of James Martindale Todd and Emily Todd (nee Whinfield) of Hinning House, Ravenglass, Cumberland (now Cumbria). James Todd (Jnr.) was born in 1915 and was 27 years old at the time of his death in 1942. Gilbert Todd, whose photograph is seen above, was born in 1920 and was 19 years old when he died in October 1939.

James Martindale Todd had married Emily Whinfield in 1908. In addition to Gilbert and James (Jnr.) their other children were Myles (born 1911), Edith (born 1913), Tom (born 1917), William M. (born 1922) and Tyson (born 1924). The children had been educated initially at Muncaster Council School.

The six boys were well known before the war in sporting circles throughout the twin counties of Cumberland and Westmorland. In particular, Gilbert, James and their brothers were noted expert wrestlers (Cumberland & Westmorland style) at local sports and shepherd's meetings.

Ordinatry Telegraphist Gilbert Todd was among the first Second World War casualties from West Cumberland after HMS Royal Oak was sunk while at harbour in Scapa Flow in the early hours of the morning of Saturday 14 October 1939. From a crew which numbered more than 1200, a total of 833 men were lost and 386 were saved from the sea (a small number were ashore at the time). The vessel was sunk by German U-Boat, U-47, commanded by Günther Prien.

After completing his formal education at Ghyll Bank School, Whitehaven Gilbert Todd had joined the Royal Navy at the age of 17 in 1937. At that time he joined the training ship HMS Victory and trained as a wireless operator. He had joined the crew of HMS Royal Oak in June 1939.

Gilbert Todd has no known grave. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire. However, a memorial service in his memory was held at Muncaster Parish Church at 3.00 p.m. on Sunday 22 October 1939. The service was conducted by the Vicar, Reverend A. Partridge who paid tribute to Gilbert and his family. Reverend Partridge also expressed the deepest sympathy to all of Gilbert's crewmates who had perished in the disaster of Scapa Flow. The local newspaper report of the service noted that among the large congregation were many ex-service personnel of the First World War and a detachment from the Border Regiment led by Corporal Burns.

While Glbert Todd was the first man of Muncaster parish to lose his life in WW2 he was not to be the last, and one of them would be another member of the Todd family. Just under two years later, in October 1942, James Todd was also to lose his life while serving with the Royal Marines (HMS Curacoa). As with his brother, James Todd has no known grave. James Todd is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial as well as the Muncaster Parish War Memorial. **************************

My 2great uncles Bob and William Cowan are commemorated here and in Muncaster church andWiillliam again at Barrow Central station. Their mother Elizabeth Hodgson Cowan was presented to the Prince of Wales-later Edward Vlll in 1921. I have a photo if you would like me to post it

Around Remembrance time each year a team of Royal Navy divers based at Faslane travels to Scapa Flow to inspect the wreck of HMS Royal Oak. Additionally, as a mark of respect for e 883 seamen who lost their lives when the Royal Oak went down, the R.N. divers fix the a new standard to the hulk.

Following the visit of the divers in 2013 the group's leader, William Miller said:

“It is a rare and great privilege to have the opportunity to dive on such a symbol of naval heritage. It is extremely moving to be able to take part in a small act of remembrance to honour the great sacrifice that those before us made.”

To read an article about the annual Royal Oak ceremony and Ordinary Telgraphist Gilbert Todd of Muncaster, which appeared in the 'News & Star' a local newspaper from Gilbert Todd's home county of Cumbria, click on the following link: Cumbrian Sailor Honoured Deep Beneath the Sea+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gilbert and James were my uncles and I must point out that you have omitted two of their older brothers from your discription of the Todd family John (Jack ) and Edmond .These were the two oldest sons of the family .

Thank you for the additional information about your family, Gilbert. I presume you were given the first name of Gilbert in remembrance of your uncle?

Sorry about missing two of the siblings. The memorial service and the details of your family were mainly from local newspaper reports from the time and the elder two you mention were not known to the reporter. You are welcome to add anything else to the story I may have missed if you wish.

You are quite correct in assuming I was named after my uncle Gilbert .My grandma asked my mother to name me so believing there might never be another Gilbert Todd and the rest is history .Unfortunately I never knew my grandparents or James and Gilbert never the less I am proud of their sacrifice On another note Tom also served in the Navy and was wounded with shrapnel in his lungs somewhere in the far east I believe by a kamakaze attack on his vessel.Your post has aroused my interest and I intend to try and find out more

Thank you for the update, Gilbert. I can give you a little more information if it is of interest and you wish to follow up for the benefit of your own family.

The newspaper article about the memorial service at Muncaster for your Uncle Gilbert was in 'The Whitehaven News', dated Thursday 26 October 1939. It was the previous week's edition of 'The Whitehaven News' (19 October 1939) that mentioned he had been lost. The 19 October edition mentioned other among the crew of the 'Royal Oak' who had either been lost or had survived.

Also in the 19 October 1939 edition of 'The Whitehaven News' was the family notice (in the 'deaths' column) placed by your grandparents:

"ON ACTIVE SERVICETODD - On October 14th, Gilbert, aged 19 years, the beloved son of James M. and Emily Todd, Hinninghouse, Ravenglass, Ordinary Telegraphist on H.M.S. Royal Oak. Deeply mourned.Memorial service in Muncaster Church on Sunday the 22nd, at 3 p.m."

Copies are available to view at the Cumbria County Archives & Local Studies Centre at Whitehaven (which is where I looked at them). The fact your Uncle Gilbert was one of the first from the district to be killed in the war meant it was probably more prominent in the newspapers than later casualties. The original photograph I was able to copy at the Archives was probably loaned to the newspaper by your grandparents so you or another member of your family may still have the original?

The news about the death of your uncle James Todd seems to have come through in November 1942. It was reported in the local newspaper, 'The Whitehaven News' on 12 November and 19 November.